Christmas Day photos

click to view CHRISTMAS DAY 2007 IN SC photos

Christmas Eve photos

Click this link to view photos from our Christmas Eve "family reunion" at cousin Judy's home.

Christmas Eve photos

A few photos taken at cousin Judy's Christmas Eve party/family reunion. I am still working on my online photo book and will post those asap.


Caden enjoyed chasing Darrell's dog, Ginger, around the house.



Emilee and Natalie sing along as Mom plays Christmas songs on the keyboard.




Dylan and Emilee playing with the train under the tree



















Judy with her sons, Darrell and Tony

family news

Special days in DECEMBER

There were at least two family birthdays in December – Meredith, our grand-daughter who lives in WI, turned one year old on Dec 2nd. Kimberly Arthur, our 2nd cousin, celebrated her 26th birthday on Dec 23rd . Of course we always think of Cindy’s dad, J.L. Baggett, whose birthday would have been on Dec 24th. Winnie made his favorite apple nut cake to eat on that day in his memory. Gene and Martha Franklin (my parents) celebrated another anniversary (#56) on Dec 22nd ; Joshua and Janelle Franklin celebrated their 4th anniversary on Dec 27th.


We really enjoyed the Franklin family “reunion” at my cousin Judy’s home Christmas Eve. We do not get to go to this every year with my mom and dad, so this year was special. Our middle son Stephen, Leah, Natalie and Meredith arrived from WI on Sunday night and were able to join us for Christmas Eve in SC this year. Also at the party were Tony Mitchell and Darrell Mitchell, Judy’s sons; Pat Brown and family members: Donna and Mike Daley, Trey and Logan and Greg, Kylee and Emilee Brown; my sister, Loretta Brooks, along with her son’s family, Kenny, Casey and Caden Arthur; Gloria Walker and her daughter’s family, Kimberly, Paul, Dylan and Kaitlin Arthur; and it also nice to see Miranda (Dianne's daughter.)

On Christmas Day we opened presents all day long it seemed. We enjoyed seeing Natalie and Meredith opening presents Christmas Day morning and I think we were all happy with the gifts we received. Just as we finished, the Logans arrived with more presents to exchange (my sister Deborah and Charlie, Jonathan, April and Philip) As the mothers prepared dinner for Christmas, other family arrived with more presents to exchange after the meal. My other sister, Loretta and her son's family - Kenny, Casey and Caden joined us for the day. Mom and Dad were very happy to have there family together again at Christmastime.

IN OTHER FAMILY NEWS:
Leah is expecting their third girl due the first of April - which may or may not conflict with our youngest son’s wedding. Brandon and Rachel will be married on March 29th at Victory Baptist in Jax. Our oldest, Joshua, will perform the wedding ceremony.

Also we are praying for Joshua’s wife, Janelle, as she has severe kidney problems and they are running test on her now. Also we are praying for my cousin Gloria Walker as she continues chemo treatment for cancer.

Philip Logan is a freshman at Stetson University. He is involved in music with his guitar classes and ensembles, the men’s choir. He also is participating on the Stetson crew, the rowing team. April Logan has one more semester and will graduate in May 2008 from the school of nursing at BJU.

time for a carol

The Story of the Birth of Christ
(click on link to read)
the angels appeared to shepherds, who were watching their flock in the fields, with the glorious announcement of the birth of Christ.


There was no room in the inn for the baby Jesus to be born, so he was born in a manger, probably in a cave where the animals were kept. Do you have any room for Jesus in your heart and life today?



It's Christmas time and time for a carol,
Time to sing about the newborn king,
So Merry Christmas to one and all!!

sweet songs of Christmas

Our church chorale sang this song during the "Spirit of Christmas" program at Berean two weeks ago. It has a very powerful message in the words - the text written by Eileen Berry - and the music which fits the text so well is written by Dan Forrest. Dan Forrest graduated from Bob Jones University and recently completed his doctorate in Kansas. He returned to staff at BJU this fall. I was searching for the words on line and noticed several university choirs featured this song in their program this year.

You can listen to "Carol of Joy" at this link to Dan's site and the words are below:

Carol Of Joy

Green leaves all fallen, withered and dry; Brief sunset fading, dim winter sky. Lengthening shadows, Dark closing in. When through the stillness, carols begin.

Oh fallen world, to you is the song– Death holds you fast and night tarries long. Jesus is born, your curse to destroy! Sweet to your ears, a carol of Joy!

Pale moon ascending, solemn and slow; Cold barren hillside, shrouded in snow; Deep, empty valley veiled by the night; Hear angel music–hopeful and bright!

Oh fearful world, to you is the song– Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong! Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound–A carol of joy! A Saviour is found!

Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes! Thrill to the chorus filling the skies! Look up sad hearted–witness God’s love! Join in the carol swelling above!

Oh friendless world, to you is the song! All Heaven’s joy to you may belong! You who are lonely, laden, forlorn– Oh fallen world!Oh friendless world!To you,A Saviour is born!

the spirit of Christmas

I really enjoyed being part of the Christmas program, "The Spirit of Christmas," at Berean Baptist Church. Even though I am "extra tired" from the six performances this past Friday-Sunday night, I still have some voice left. And by now, the music is so thoroughly entrenched in my brain that I have to share some of it with you - at least the words. The first 20 minutes of the program were traditional Christmas songs. After a solo of "Chestnuts roasting....(the Christmas song)" the choir greeted the audience and began the program with "The Spirit of the Season." This is a very happy Christmas song with such words as "people smile as they pass you by...the day will be here soon" and "snowflakes falling as you rush downtown...the city seems to glow..." Yes, the spirit of the season does fill your hearts with love and care! Other songs included the teens singing about a "marshmallow world" with a lively Frosty the snowman in person. We concluded this portion singing "Dashing through the snow..." and "there's no place like home for the holidays..." ending with "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..."

The first section of the program was followed by an interlude. It gave us a chance to rest our feet, unless you were serving the desserts and drinks. During the interlude, there were musical numbers and skits as people enjoyed the dessert, coffee and hot chocolate.

The remainder of the program focused on the true story of Christmas with many carols and songs. Between the full choir, the men's ensemble and the ladies ensemble a narrator tied all of this together. We ended with the song "Christmas Pastorale" sung by candlelight. If I had to choose a favorite it would be this song.

Like a lamb so meek and mild,
Softly sleeps the holy child,
Lying on a manger bed
Where the ox and sheep have fed.
Lamb of God, pure art thou,
At thy humble throne I bow.
With the angel choirs I sing
Gloria to the newborn King.


God's own Lamb by Heaven adored
Shepherd's own thee as their lord,
Gifts of tribute have they none,
But their hearts for God's own Son.
Lamb of God, pure art Thou
At thy humble throne I bow,
With the angel choirs I sing:
Gloria, Gloria, Gloria to the newborn King.

Callaway Gardens photo gallery

We met up with our friends, Bob and Linda Benn from Jacksonville, at Callaway Gardens last week.

You can view the photos at this link

AND you can view three short videos I posted at youtube

festival of lights at Callaway Gardens

We traveled to Callaway Gardens at Pine Mountain, GA last Saturday to enjoy the Festival of Lights. We chose to drive through since it was so cold, but you can also ride the "Jolly Trolly" which is a tram pulled by a large truck (bring a blanket, etc). I tried to record the lights with my digital camera, and I posted three short videos. They give you a "taste" of what it is like, because there are lights above you as well as on both sides of you as you drive down the road. It took about one hour to drive through the six miles of lights. Some are animated and all scenes have music. Our favorite was the "Twelve Days of Christmas" from the partridge in a pear tree to the twelve drummers drumming (really drumming). We also enjoyed the light animation of building a bicycle. It was our first trip to Callaway and it will not be our last!

photo gallery

We enjoyed spending Thanksgiving weekend with the family. We ate a lot on Thursday, went shopping on Friday afternoon, visited with Judy and Darrell on Saturday evening, and then went to church with my Mom and Dad on Sunday. And on top of all that, my Mom got to play with one of her great-grandkids!

Click link to view more photos

it's tradition, you know

While we gathered at my parent's house for the traditional Thanksgiving meal, we also continued another tradition. The "Franklin Family Singers" sang an old gospel song, "Do You Know My Jesus?" at Calvary Baptist in Cowpens on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Cindy took a couple of photos of our practice session on Saturday night, and the laughter in the second photo is because of Brandon using his "soprano" voice. Our newest addition to the family is Brandon's fiancee Rachel, who sang "Whispering Hope" as a solo, one of Grandpa's favorites.

Thanksgiving Day Photos

photo gallery

It has been a busy week at work. Since I took off two days vacation for the holiday, I had to work extra to get caught up. I finally downloaded some photos from Thanksgiving.


We enjoyed watching "2nd" cousins Caden and Brielle playing together for the first time.